General Motors’ German unit Opel has declined to comment on a local newspaper report it may extend production suspensions to all of its European plants for several weeks in November and December.
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The Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung quoted Opel Bochum plant union official Rainer Einenkel as saying GM was considering a plant shutdown for the two last weeks in November and again from 15 December to the end of the year.
An Opel spokesman declined to comment to just-auto on the report.
Another spokesman had earlier told AFP: “We will react in a flexible manner when it is necessary. For now, we know nothing.”
The automaker has already confirmed it is cutting 40,000 vehicles from its 2008 schedule, with temporary closures at German plants in Bochum and Eisenach plus cuts at Ellesmere Port and Luton here in the UK.
A member of the group’s works committee confirmed the paper’s report to the news agency however. A decision could be taken in early November, according to AFP.
The news agency added that unions at a GM plant in Strasbourg, France, have also said their facility is to close for 19 days until 2 January.
